Secondary battery



(No Model) 2 sheetssheet 1.

I W W GRISGOM SECONDARY BATTERY.

Patented Apr. 2, 1889.

2 Sheets-Sheet v 2.

Patented Apr. 2. 1889.

W. W. GRISGOM. SBGONDARY BATTERY.

(No Model.

N. PETERS. Photo-Lithographer Wishinghm. n. C

\VILLIAM IV. GRISCOM, OF I-IAVERFORD COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE ELECTRICAL ACCUIWIULATOR COMPANY, OF NEIV YORK.

SECO N DARY BATTERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 400,842, dated April 2, 1889.

Application filed December 18, 1888. Serial No. 293,932. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

lle it known that I, \VILLIAM IV. GRISOOM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Haverford College, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new'and useful Improvements in Secondary Batteries, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in secondary batteries or accumulators.

The invention more particularly has reference to the arrangement of the plates in the cell, whereby they are supported at or near their center free from the bottom of the cell in a manner which facilitates the removal of one element without disturbing the other. I have also devised an improved form of connection for uniting adjacent cells of battery, which is constructed of a practically inoxidiz- 2o able metal.

Heretofore others have united the several plates forming one element of apair by strips of metal arranged upon opposite edges near the central height of the plates, and have pro- 2 5 vided the plates of the complementary element with projections upon opposite edges designed to rest upon and be supported by the strips of the first element. I have found this arrangement susceptible of improvement,

0 because the weight of both elements is thus thrown upon the lower section of one series of plates, causing or tending to cause a curvature of the said plates between the lower edge and the central line of said plates.

3 5 My improvement, designed to obviate this difficulty, consists in supporting both elements at points on two opposite edges of the plates near the central vertical distance thereof. Each plate of an element is fur- 4o nished with projections on its opposite edges near the central vertical distance; the series of plates of one element at this point are united 011 both edges by a strip of conducting material; two points of support are arranged within the inclosing-cell upon opposite sides thereof, and the described elementis placed in position resting upon these supports. A strip of insulating material is placed upon the projections; or upon the strip of conducting material forming part of the described element, and the second element of the battery, consisting of a series of plates electrically united at or near their upper edges and having projections upon opposite edges at or near the central vertical distance, is placed in 5 5 position with the said projections resting upon the said strips of insulating material. The points of support for both these elements are arranged upon the interior of the cell upon two opposite sides. I prefer to construct these supports from slabs of insulating material mechanically united in a manner to secure them in a fixed position with respect to each other. The height or position of these supports and the location of the projections (15 on the plates are so arranged and proportioned that the bottom edges of both series of plates are in the same plane somewhat elevated from the bottom of the cell. One series of plates are interleaved with the other series in the usual and well-known manner.

For the purpose of uniting two adjacent cells of battery I provide each battery with lugs or terminals having a screw thread. These lugs are preferably equal sections of a screw, the section on one cell being a complementary part of the section on an adjoining cell, so that when the two sections are brought together a screw-threaded nut can be placed over both, firmly uniting them mechanically and electrically. I prefer to form each section to represent one-half of a truncated cone divided in the plane of its major axis and having a series of parallel grooves in its curved surface, so that when the two halves are united 8 5 the grooves on one section register with the grooves on the other, forming a continuous helical groove from one end to the other. I then pass the nut overboth sections, mechanically uniting them in a practically-perfect elec- 9o trical contact.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention. v

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the two elements as they are placed in the inclosingcell, both supported at or near the center. Fig. l is a view of the preferred form of insulating-support. Fig. 2 is a side View, one of the plates being broken away. Fig. 3 is a plan. View of the connecting device, and Fig. I is a sectional side view thereof.

l and N are two elements or electrodes, as they are sometimes. called, each consistin of a series of plates of lead, with an active matm'ial, consisting of oxide of lead, applied thereto .in the form of a paste. The plates of one element are interleaved with the plates of the other element in a manner long well known. They are separated and insulated from each otherby pins The plates of one element, 1, have projections 0 upon opposite edges at points near their centralv vertical distz'rnce. These projections are united with strips of conducting material, as lead, 0 and (I. Said. plates are also united at or near their upper edge by a strip of conducting material, I. The plates composing the element l\ are united at or near their upper edges by strips d and l), and at or .near their central Vertical distance there are projections n upon opposite edges.

ti 5 are sect i o1 is of insulating nniterial, as slabs of parallineifl wood. They are about one-half the height of the cell, and. are unitedby strips .9 a, which keep them in position. These supports t in are placed in v the cell and the element .l? is placed in position with the projections 0 o and strips (2 d resting on them. Strips of insulat in material, 1, are then placed on the strips 0 and d, and the element N is then placed in positiomwith its pro ections n n resting upon the strips of insulatii'lg material, 1 1 but supported by the supportingpieccs S it is to be observed that the height of the supports H S and the position of the projections o and n are so placed and proportioned that the bottoms of the elements I and N are in substantially the same plane, but somewhat elevated from the bottom of the cell, while both elements are supported from points at or near their central vertical distance.

(in the free ends of the strips 7) and c are lm-ated connections for uniting two cells togetlua'. I construct these connections of an imixidizable metal or alloy, such as lead and ant imony. The terminal of each cell is preferably one-half of a screw, land 2', i) and 4, so that when the Hat surfaces are brought togt ther the screw is complete, and anut, m, can be screwed into position, firmly uniting the two sections mechanically and electrically. 'ihe sectionrand the sectionZ are compltanentary parts, and together form a male screw having a very coarse threadsay tour or live turns to the inch. The nut on has a female screw of corresponding thread. I construct one half the cells with connections on one end of each strip Z) or c 01: the element P or lxhand the other half with connections on the opposite end of the strip 1) or c 011' an element, l or II; or I may place connections tac ing in oppositedirections on opposite ends off every strip, or I may screw the connections Z and 1' into place on the strips 1) and. 0, so that the direction in which they face may be changed at pleasure. 13y either method. the desired end is attained, and. a pertect, simple, and inexpensive connect-ion for batteries is secured.

\Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a secondary battery, the (.:ombination of two elements or clcctrmfles, one being independently removal do with respect to the other, and each composed of a series of plates electrically united, an inclosing-ccll therefor, an electrolytic liquid, and means for supporting both elements above the bottom of the cell, consistingoi' fixed points located on opposite sides of both elements between the upperand lower edges, and points of support located at. opposite sides of the interior of the inclosingcell, suljistantially as described.

2. In a secondary battery, the combination. of two elements or electrodes, an inclosingcell therefor, an electrolytic liquid, and means for supporting both said electrodes above the bottom of the cell, consisting of projections located on opposite sides at or near the central. vertical distance thereof and taking against fixed supports within the cell, substanti ally as described.

In a secondary battery, the combination of two elements or electrodes, each ctmsisting of a series of plates, an inclosing-cell therefor, an electrolylic liquid, a series of projections on one element located onopposite ed ges between the upper and lower edges united by a mechanical connection to maintain. a fixed distance between the plates, a series of projections on the other element similarly located and resting upon said mechanical connection, and means for supporting said. elements upon said projections free from contact with the bottom of the cell, substantially as described.

at. In a secondary battery, the coi'nbination of two elements or electrodes, each composed of a series of plates, an inclosing-cell tllOl'G- for, a suitable lgiattery-tluid, a series of projections on opposite sides of both elements near the central vertical distance theroot', strips of conducting material uniting the plates of one element at or near said projections and at a point on the upper edge thereof, strips of conducting material uniting the plates oil. the second element at points on the upper edge thereof, insulated supports on opposite sides of the inclosing-cell, near its central vertical distance, upon which the projections of the first element rest in position to form a rest for the projections of the second element, and strips of insulating material separating one element from the other, substantially described.

5. In a secondary battery, the combination. of two elements or electrodes, each com msed. of a series of plates, an inclosing-cell therefor, a suitable battery-fluid, strips of cond uct1- ing material uniting the plates of one element at one or more points between the upper and lower edges, also at or near the upper edge, strips uniting the plates of the second element at or near the upper edge, a series of projections on the edges of the second element, insulating-supports upon which the central strips of the first element rest, the projections of the second element resting thereon, and strips of insulating material separating one element from the other, substantially as described.

6. The combination, in a secondary battery, of two elements, each consisting of a series of plates having fixed points of supports between their upper and lower edges, and a support, rest, or frame consisting of two slabs of insulating material located on opposite sides of the cell and held in position with respect to each other by one or more strips, substantially as described.

7. The combination, in an electrical connection, of two sections of conducting material, one section being the complementary part of the other, a series of parallel grooves in the surface of each section, the grooves of one registering with the grooves of the other, and a nut for uniting the two sections mechanically and' electrically, substantially as described.

S. The combination of two complementary sections of conducting material having a se ries of parallel grooves united to form a male screw, and a nut having a female screw for mechanically and electrically uniting the two sections, substantially as and for the purpose described.

9. In an electrical connection, the combination of a battery-terminal carrying a screwthread, a second terminal carrying a similar screw-thread, and'a nut having a corresponding thread for mechanically and electrically uniting both terminals, substantially as described.

10. An electrical connector for batteries, consisting of two sections of conducting material having the form of a cone divided on the plane of its major axis with a helical groove in its curved surface forming a male screw, and a nut having a female screw for uniting the two sections mechanically and electrically combined with a battery-terminal connected to each section, substantially as described.

11. The combination of two sections of conducting material, each forming the terminal of a battery, andeach provided with a threaded surface combined with a nut having a threaded contact-surface for mechanically and electrically uniting the two said sections.

Signed at the city of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 14th day of December, A. D. 1888.

WILLIAM w. GRISOOM.

Witnesses:

DANIEL E. DELAVAN, F. D. L. WALKER. 

